Ja Morant’s injury inactivity on Friday paved the way for Scotty Pippen Jr. to seize a career moment and a historic feat.
Embracing the call for his first NBA start, the Memphis Grizzlies sensation gave a splendid performance to register his first triple-double. Pippen Jr. dropped 11 points, 11 assists, and 10 rebounds across 28 minutes to spearhead the team’s dominant 128-104 home victory against the Washington Wizards.
All-in for SPJ’s career feat
Filling the position vacated by Morant, Pippen Jr. perfectly ran the show as the Grizzlies’ main floor general, and he achieved the triple-double with the help of his teammates.
With the game winding down as the result was already decided for a Memphis victory, Jaren Jackson Jr. and Santi Aldama combined to ensure that SPJ would accomplish this historic feat. With the 23-year-old still looking for two assists to attain the triple-double in the fourth quarter, the Grizzlies star sank a three-pointer from his pass with eight minutes left. And 40 seconds later, the Spanish big followed it up by flushing a backdoor cut slam dunk out of Scotty’s quick dime.